No more quake cracks from reformed rocker Bank
WHEN ROCK MUSICIAN Preeti “Bank” Barameeanant was last in the news, it was for making an insensitive joke about a flatulent Godzilla being the cause of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, which left more than 15,000 people dead and devastated northeastern Japan.
Cut to four years later, and the 31-year-old frontman for the rock group Clash has a completely different social-media personality. Where he once cracked wise about Ultraman and Doreamon restoring peace to quake-wracked Japan, he now posts photos of his pets, home-cooked meals, selfies with fans, rehearsals and even money-saving tips.
For example, when he couldn’t find a dog collar large enough for his Labrador retriever puppy, he bought a women’s belt and strapped it around his pooch’s neck. “I chose the smallest size, then punched some extra holes and trimmed the end of the belt. Now my dog Pip has a nice classy collar for just Bt60,” Bank enthused.
And for those who assume Bank is caught up in rock-star extravagances like fancy cars and huge houses, the erstwhile bad-boy says he needs none of that.
“My luxuries are my grandmother’s smile, the look in my father’s eyes when he whistled happily on his way home, when I call out my mother’s name every time I make a merit, my hard-working brother who has good attitude towards the world and my healthy cats and dogs,” Bank stated. “The most important thing is I try, everyday, to be a better man for everybody around me. That’s what I call my life of luxury.”
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Departing thoughts
With hundreds of film and television roles to her credit, veteran singer-actress Naowarat “Jik” Yuktanan has become better known in recent years for her volunteer work, with TV shows and even the BBC documenting her many selfless deeds.
The colourful actress, who retains her youthful vivaciousness, even after a 40-year career in showbiz, started out as a volunteer at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, helping to cheer up patients and call names for those waiting in the queue.
But her efforts took a new direction when she saw a corpse in the morgue, and a feeling of despair and loneliness crept into her soul. She talked to the hospital staff, asking: Was there a way she could ease the passing of the recently departed, and imbue them with humanity in their final earthly moments?
“Making them look nice before their final rites is what I could do,” Jik says. And, despite a tremendous fear of ghosts, the star has been putting makeup on the dead for around two years. It’s important, meaningful work, she says, and even has a few tips for anyone wanting to assist.
“If you want to help by donating some makeup for the dead, please choose something that will be usable. It is not necessary to get the expensive brands. We always need makeup base, blush and lipstick. What we do not use are night creams, false eyelashes or anything with glitter. Keep in mind that we should not make it too colourful. A peaceful look is the key.”
